The Nation s Leading Online Law School WHAT S INSIDE: > Dean s Message > About the Law School > Programs Offered > Graduate Testimonials > Benefits of an Online Law School For more information or to speak with an Admissions Advisor, call 800.439.4794 (Toll Free) or visit www.concordlawschool.edu.
Dean s Message A Message From the Dean Concord Law School strives to provide students with an exemplary online legal education. As a Concord graduate, I am proud to have this opportunity to serve the Law School at this juncture and to support the fine work of its professors and administrative staff. It is my goal as dean, and the goal of our faculty, to provide our students with a challenging, accessible, and affordable legal education. As a leading innovator in online legal education, Concord offers law students with differing educational goals a valuable option in today s challenging economic climate. We achieve this by making law study possible for busy people and by reducing the overall costs both monetary and opportunity of pursuing a law degree. Many of our students and my fellow graduates have substantial experience in other fields or industries, including business, engineering, medicine, and other professions, and choose to earn a law degree to enhance their current work. Still others do what I did: choose Concord Law School to start new careers, change career fields, or plan for a second and sometimes third career. After working in industry and being involved in a number of business enterprises for more than 25 years, my law practice concentrating on domestic violence and children has been the most fulfilling work of my career. I recognize that our unique program may not be the right fit for everyone, but it is a good fit for students who want the highest quality legal education they can take with them. We hope you will find that the education you receive at Concord along with our lively learning community, dedicated faculty, and flexible, affordable programs meets your educational goals. We welcome your interest and look forward to learning more about your individual ambitions. Thank you for taking a look at Concord Law School. Larry David, JD Dean of Concord Law School Kaplan University President Wade Dyke appointed J. Larry David as interim dean in June 2014. Dean David has served for 6 years on the Kaplan University Board of Trustees and is a 2004 Concord graduate. He currently maintains a practice concentrating on cases involving domestic violence and children. His practice is also involved in the areas of transactional real estate, unlawful detainer, and breach of contract. Mr. David is a former Managing Director of Apple Computer International (Hong Kong) Ltd., a subsidiary of Apple Computer, Inc. He also founded and was a principal in several firms involving trade with China and is involved in the management of industrial real estate holdings. He has previously served as a member of the governing board of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.
About the Law School The Best Law School May Be the One That Comes to You. Concord Law School offers you a challenging legal education without the demands of exorbitant tuition costs, commuting, or relocation. Concord was the first law school in the United States to offer students a traditional law school program online, including rigorous classes, testing, and nationally respected faculty members. The School now boasts over 1,800 graduates. We re proud of our tough yet highly rewarding programs. Those prepared for the challenge will find a curriculum that delivers a first-rate law school education in a flexible and supportive environment. Student Centered At Concord Law School, you will study with dedicated and expert faculty, law advisors, staff, and full- and part-time faculty members. Our talented professors are committed to your success. They include published authors, seasoned lecturers, and others with outstanding educational and professional backgrounds. Many maintain an active role in the practice of law, business, or public service. Their real-world perspectives carry over into their classes. Affordable Concord believes that legal education should be accessible to people of average means. Keeping tuition and fees as stable and affordable as possible serves both the public interest and our students in a very important way. The overall cost of our JD degree program ($9,984 yearly) is far below the median cost of a JD degree for residents at public, tax-supported law schools, and is approximately one-third of the cost at the average private US law school. In today s challenging economic and employment environment, lower tuition costs mean less risk for more opportunity. And at Concord Law School, it doesn t mean sacrificing quality. Convenient Concord s proprietary learning management system (LMS) is specifically designed to deliver a legal education online. In fact, top campus-based law schools such as Loyola University Chicago have worked with us to deliver their programs online to students. The Concord LMS lets you attend live seminars, connect with classmates, access course materials, watch video lectures, take exams, go to the library, and more all from your home or office, or anywhere there s an Internet connection available. Concord Facts: > 40 percent of Concord graduates already have an advanced degree in another discipline. > Historically, over 88 percent of graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.1 or better passed the California Bar exam on their first attempt. > Graduates hail from all 50 states and many foreign countries. > 50 percent of students are female. > Approximately 90 percent of students are over the age of 31. > About 70 percent of students reside outside of California. DEIAN V. KAZACHKI JD, Concord Graduate, 2006
Programs Offered Programs Offered Juris Doctor (JD) Degree California Bar Track: 4 Years, Part Time The JD program is a 92-unit program requiring no less than 48 and no more than 52 weeks of consecutive study each year. The program meets the legal education requirements of the State Bar of California, developing the knowledge and skills students need to be an effective member of the legal profession. 1 Concord s JD program is grounded in the core bar courses, with the first two years of study devoted entirely to required courses. In the third and fourth years of study, the curriculum plan includes elective units. Students choose from an expanding group of elective courses such as health law, cyberlaw, and patent law, in addition to skill-based offerings including advocacy and contracts drafting. Executive Juris Doctor SM (EJD) Degree Non-California Bar Track: 3 Years, Part Time The EJD program consists of 72 units. It is a unique degree program pioneered by Concord and provides individuals with an interest in the law, or those whose career would benefit from advanced legal knowledge, the opportunity to participate in law school courses without the regulatory hurdles associated with becoming a member of the Bar. After the first year, during which EJD students take the same foundational courses required of JD students, there is a great deal of flexibility in course selection. In the second and third years of study, EJD students create a curriculum plan centered on their personal interests and career objectives. 1 In addition to choosing broadly from the course offerings, EJD students may focus their study along two tracks: Law and Technology and Criminal Justice. Featured Faculty Sara Berman, Professor of Law BA, University of California Santa Barbara JD, University of California Los Angeles Kathleen Reagan, Professor of Law BA, University of Virginia JD, Tulane Law School Scott Johnson, Professor of Law BA, University of North Carolina at Charlotte JD, Franklin Pierce Law Center Professor Berman practiced bankruptcy law and taught at another law school before joining the Concord faculty in 2000. She teaches in the first year and fourth year remedies and capstone courses. Professor Berman oversees Concord s bar exam support program, which includes teaching writing workshops and working with alumni mentors. She has lectured extensively for BarPassers, West Bar Review, PLI, and other bar reviews, and is a nationally recognized expert on the performance test. Her publications include The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System, and Represent Yourself in Court and How to Prepare and Try a Winning Case (both published by Nolo.com). Professor Reagan was an assistant district attorney for 8 years. During that time, she prosecuted criminal cases, trained and supervised attorneys, and was chief of a family protection unit. In addition to her Concord responsibilities, Professor Reagan was associated on a part-time basis with a small general-practice law firm in Braintree, Massachusetts. Since 2006, she has maintained a practice in equine law as a sole practice in Quincy, Massachusetts. Professor Reagan also contributes to Queryhorse.com, an equine search engine. She is a first-year professor and also developed and teaches one of the few equine law courses in the country. Professor Johnson was previously involved in a private practice focusing on administrative law, constitutional law, education law, and health law all subjects he now teaches at Concord. His legal work has included numerous cases before trial courts, the New Hampshire Supreme Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and various administrative agencies. While in practice, Professor Johnson was involved in a number of precedent-setting cases including Claremont v. Governor, a case which established that all New Hampshire students have a constitutional right to an adequate education. He is the author of numerous law articles and books, including two casebooks in education law.
Graduate Testimonials Graduate Testimonials In my part-time practice, much of my work is pro bono, where I represent people at no charge I have also handled civil matters ranging from contract disputes to patent licensing. It is a privilege to be an attorney, one who can represent the interests of others as their legal counsel, and it wouldn t have happened were it not for the high caliber of legal education I received at Concord Law School. Ross Mitchell, 2004 Boston, MA My interest in the law was sparked anew when I found the Concord program, and the spark became a flame of passion for the American rules of law and government once I really became engrossed in the program. Now I m looking forward to beginning a new career in law. Without Concord, none of this would have been possible. I want to set aside some time to do pro bono work with a legal aid clinic. It s one of the main reasons why I wanted to study law. I felt that not only was it something I would like to pursue as a career but ultimately I could use it to help others. Somita Basu, 2012 Singapore I am grateful to Concord for leading me to a new career practicing law. I m my own boss now and it has been a hugely rewarding experience to be able to help others and make a living doing so. My practice is composed of 90 percent bankruptcy cases, a small number of HOA cases, and some special education advocacy work. I now have the freedom to believe anything is possible. Link Schrader, 2008 Los Angeles, CA As a graduate of Concord Law School and now a working attorney, my experience with Concord was outstanding. Having never attended anything other than brick-andmortar schools, I didn t know what to expect. Concord s staff made me feel at ease by providing the support I needed to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. With Concord s cutting-edge online system, challenging program, and excellent communication and response time from professors, I felt confident at the bar exam and entering into practice. More than a law school, Concord is a community. I highly recommend it to those considering a career in law. C. Scott Malloy, 2009 San Jose, CA Concord Law School is registered as a Distance Learning Law School in the unaccredited law school category with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Registration with the Committee permits Concord JD graduates, who meet the regulatory requirements, to apply for admission to the State Bar of California. Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California. A student intending to seek admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.
Benefits of an Online Law School All the Benefits of a Campus- Based Law School, Online How the Program Works Going to law school online is very much like attending law school in a building. Our proprietary learning management system (LMS) provides what students expect to find in the halls of a brick-and-mortar law school, including the registrar, law library, career services, and a variety of student-formed groups. Courses include streaming video and audio lectures, live interactive classes, multiple-choice quizzes and essays, papers, research assignments, projects, problems, drafting exercises, oral advocacy presentations, and other elements. Students actively engage with their professors and fellow students through live, synchronous online classes, as well as via email, bulletin boards, and other interactive online technologies. Professional Faculty, Superior Support Concord s professors are experienced online instructors legal subject-matter experts with real-world knowledge. Many have taught at other law schools and draw upon their experiences from the courtroom, corporate world, and public sector. The Concord curriculum also takes advantage of distinguished lecturers from across the country who provide substantive, prerecorded law lectures. For example, New York University Professor Arthur Miller, who taught for many years at Harvard Law School, is such a lecturer for our Civil Procedure course. The faculty also includes Law Advisors, themselves attorneys, who provide academic support while guiding students through the demands of law school. Tuition Concord provides an affordable option for legal education. The current annual tuition is $9,984 with a $75 nonrefundable application fee. A scholarship of a 25 percent tuition reduction is also available to eligible students. 2 How to Apply Successful Concord Law School students are highly motivated and enthusiastic. Although Concord s platform provides more accessibility and flexibility than a campus-based setting, its programs demand a substantial amount of time and dedication. With the goal of enrolling only those we feel are up to this challenge, the Concord Law School admissions process is selective and consists of: > An initial interview with an Admissions Advisor. > An online admissions test consisting of a true/false section evaluating reading comprehension skills and a mini LSAT-style exam. > Submission of the enrollment application and official transcripts from accredited colleges and universities. A minimum of a bachelor s degree is required. > A review of the applicant s submitted materials by the Admissions Committee. Our admissions staff is available to answer questions and guide you through each step of the process. IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE READ For comprehensive consumer information, visit kaplanuniversity.edu/student-consumer-information.aspx Testimonials were solicited by Concord Law School. Views and opinions stated herein are the individual s and not necessarily those of Concord. Individual student experiences may vary. 1 Concord Law School cannot guarantee employment or career advancement. 2 A limited number of scholarships are available for first-year students enrolling in the JD program. Other terms and conditions apply. See info.concordlawschool.edu/pages/admissions.aspx for details. For more information or to speak with an Admissions Advisor, call 800.439.4794 (Toll Free) or visit www.concordlawschool.edu. I 10866 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 1200 LOS ANGELES, CA 90024 LITE_EB_07/14